Professional
Following his senior campaign with the Fighting Irish, Evans was signed to an entry-level contract by draft team the Montreal Canadiens in April 2018. [5] Initially assigned to the Laval Rocket, [6] the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, he received his first NHL recall during the course of the 2019–20 season. [7] On February 10, 2020, Evans scored his first career NHL goal in a 3–2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. [8]
On June 2, 2021, Evans received a hard open ice hit from Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele during Game 1 of the second round of the 2021 playoffs that resulted in him being stretchered off the ice. For his actions, Scheifele was suspended for four games following the hit. [9] Evans subsequently missed the remainder of the series against the Jets as well as the entire semi-final matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights due to a concussion, but returned as a replacement for teammate Joel Armia during the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. [10] He later signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract extension with Montreal that October. [11]
Entering play for the 2024–25 season, Evans reached a series of milestones in the early stages of the campaign. On November 16, 2024, he registered his 100th career NHL point in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, effectively becoming the first draft pick in franchise history selected in the seventh-round to reach this milestone. [12] Thereafter, he skated in his 300th career NHL game versus the Detroit Red Wings on December 20. [13] In March 2025, Evans agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Canadiens. [14]
